Pessary.



ClRKAPKA.

PBSSARY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1908.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

il STATES FATE OFFICE.

CARL FELIX KAFKA, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

PESSARY.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL FELIX KAFKA, doctor of medicine, citizen of the Empire of Austria-Hungary, residing at Vienna, Empire of Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pessaries, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to improve ments in pessaries.

According to this invention the improved. pessary which is composed of neutral mate rial (that is to say, material not affected by the secretions and excretions of the body), is formed by molding from the cervix uteri of the actual wearer.

By reason of the improved manufacture the improved insertion acquires the exact shape of the cervix and is therefore adapted to fit closely thereto and to remain thereon during wear solely by adhesion and without the use of any extraneous means of attach ment.

This invention thus provides a means of treating wounds and diseases of the uterus and of the cervix uteri by the application of medicaments to the pessary whereby the parts to be treated can remain for a long period in intimate contact with the said medicaments and are protected during the period of treatment from all injurious chemi cal and thermic influences to which the oervix would otherwise be exposed.

Purely mechanical reasons have hitherto rendered it impossible to apply a rational local medical treatment to the aforesaid parts. All means of attachment based on their insertion in the vagina must necessarily irritate the latter and the mechanical irritation coupled with the irritation due to the constant trickling of corrosive secretions from the diseased parts produces a continual chronic catarrh of the lower parts. All these drawbacks are now obviated by this invention.

Since all extraneous means of attachment are dispensed with, the improved insertion will not exercise any injurious pressure on, or cause any irritation to the cervix itself, or the adjacent parts of the vagina. As the material of which the insertion is composed is unaffected by the secretions, no injury can be caused to the parts in this respect.

The manufacture of the improved inser- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 24, 1908.

Patented Apr; 21, 1914. Serial No. 450,089.

tion is carried out as follows: A separate mold must be taken in the case of every person for whom the insertions are intended, because the shape of the cervix varies in every person, so that it is not possible to manufacture the insertions to a uniform standard. The molding from the person may be carried out in various ways, as for instance illustrated in the accompanying drawing by way of an example, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of an in strument containing the molding material. Fig. 2 shows the negative, and Fig. 8 the positive form of the cervix, and Fig. 4 a.

pessary according to the present invention in section.

The pessary according to the present ini vention is produced in the following manner: The cervix is exhibited in the speculum, and the mold material such as plaster of Paris or the like, contained in an instrument or spoon or other suitably shaped form (such as the instrument shown in Fig. 1) is presented against the cervix. This operation should be done by a skilled operator. The impression (Fig. 2) thus taken of the cervix constitutes what may be called the negative from which an impression (Fig. 3) is made which forms what may be called the positive, that is to say, an exact model or copy of the natural cervix. This posi tive discloses the seat of the disease and to this place a flat layer of the plastic material is applied by hand. In the same manner an approximately conical layer is applied to the place opposite to the mouth of the uterus. From this model the actual pessary is manufactured of suitable neutral materials by any suitable process adapted to the nature of the said materials. Such materials are for example, vulcanized caoutchouc, celluloid, aluminium, gold, platinum and the like.

The pessary thus produced comprises a small enlargement b, at the diseased part and a bag-like enlargement c, at the mouth of the uterus. This form is particularly sultable in cases of disease of the cervix where there is only a slight amount of secretion. It is advisable to close the mouth of the uterus on the outside for the purpose of protectmg the vagina from the corrosive secretion flowing out of the uterus. Medicaments may be placed in the enlar ement b,oppos1te the diseased part. The s ight amount of secretion is collected in the bag-like enlargement c, which is packed with absorbent material.

The pessary can be removed at intervals to allow of removing the used absorbent material, cleaning out the enlargement, and repacking the latter with fresh medicamented material. This form of pessary must be removed during the period of menstruation.

Where as in the cases of persons suife-ring from diseased uterus, the cervix has hitherto been immersed in the pool of secretion which is formed in the rear part of the top of the vagina when the said persons are in a recumbent position, and in this manner the cervix has been subjected to the varying thermic and chemical irritating influences and has thereby been hindered from heal ing, while it has been almost impossible to keep the parts antiseptically clean, the improved pessaries according to this invention promote a healing of the parts in an astonishingly short time.

I claim:

A pessary consisting of a hollow integral body formed wholly of a material of a single character and having a uniform thickness, and being relatively thin, the marginal portions beingof the same thickness as the body portion, said pessary being made to conform to the exact shape of the cervix uteri of the wearer and secured solely by adhesion, said body being formed with a rigid enlargement for the reception ofmedicaments and having a second enlargement of a bag-like shape adapted to receive absorbent materials for collections of secretions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DR. CARL FELIX KAFKA.

Witnesses FRIEDRICH BRUDER, AUGUST FUGGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

